In the Crease

Another example of the progressive coaching of the Red Wings'Scotty Bowman: With center Sergei Fedorov distraught followinglast week's announcement that his old girlfriend, tennis starAnna Kournikova, was engaged to Panthers wing Pavel Bure, Bowmantold Fedorov to take a couple of days off to pull himselftogether. Fedorov returned to the Wings last Friday in a 2-2 tiewith the Capitals. Although Fedorov didn't get a point, Detroitinsiders say he played his best all-around game in threeseasons....

The NHL Players' Association is so concerned with the possibleramifications of an arbitration hearing involving Joe Murphythat it plans to call five former players, including Bobby Orr,to testify on Murphy's behalf. Last month Murphy, who's now withthe Capitals, was suspended without pay and then released by theBruins for mouthing off at coach Pat Burns. Should the Bruinswin the arbitration, the union fears that players who arecritical of their coach will be subject to loss of salary....

One instance of how fighting can change the tone of a game: Withthe Canadiens down 4-2 against the Maple Leafs early in thethird period last Saturday, Montreal's Shayne Corson whipped TieDomi in a fight in front of the Canadiens' bench. After that,Montreal dominated, outshooting Toronto 13-4 the rest of theperiod but falling 4-3 because of the splendid play of Leafsnetminder Curtis Joseph....

How important was veteran goalie Mike Vernon to the Sharks? SanJose was 19-17-4-2 before it traded him to the Panthers on Dec.30, and, through Sunday, had gone 8-15-4-5 since. Vernon, whowas an outspoken leader in the dressing room, was beloved andtrusted by his Sharks teammates....